Floor Safes are a Crucial part of Home Security
As the economy continues to suffer and more people are becoming desperate for money, the number of home invasions and burglaries is expected to increase. Because of this, it is a good idea to invest in an extra layer of protection for your home, whether a security and alarm system, a wall safe, or a floor safe. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Most burglaries take place when a home’s residents are away and a burglar or thief feels most secure in entering undetected. Because of this, the most effective deterrent is often a well-marked security system; after all, why would a thief break into a home that has broadcast that it has a security system when he can easily go on to the house next door that does not utilize one. The other things that burglars look for is houses with easy points of entry.
In order to create a more daunting entrance to your home, use higher quality locks with a dead latch that resists entry using a credit card, and change the strike plate of your door latch from the one that it comes with to a high-security version. These are made to resist the most common method of breaking a door down, which is kicking it in; burglars rely upon the weakness of the switch plate to allow them to simply pop the door open with a single swift movement. If the door does not release after one or two kicks, they will probably move on. Similarly, create extra security by placing a simple wooden dowel in the track to prevent unwanted movement in the door, and do the same for windows, particularly those on the ground floor. Interior and exterior lighting also act as deterrents.
Finally, should an intruder gain entry to your home, they are generally looking for a theft that entails a quick grab and run. The average burglar will rifle through drawers and on counters, but will not take the time to search for well-hidden security devices. A floor safe or built-in shelf safe should be secured to the floor or into the wall so that it cannot be simply removed for later opening. It should generally be located in an area outside of the master bedroom or bedroom closet, as that is the first area where thieves look for jewelry. These safes are usually fire safe, and are therefore an excellent place to store important papers as well.